Hitchins vs. Lemos

Richardson Hitchins vs. Gustavo Lemos: Hitchins by unanimous decision.

Diego Pacheco vs. Shawn McCalman: Pacheco by unanimous decision.

Galal Yafai vs. Agustin Gauto: Yafai by TKO in round 8.

Skye Nicolson vs. Sarah Mahfoud: Nicolson by unanimous decision.

Marc Castro vs. Abraham Montoya: Castro by unanimous decision.

Steven Navarro vs. Jose Lopez: Navarro by TKO in round 6.

Harley Mederos vs. Pedro Vicente Scharbaai: Mederos by TKO in round 4.

Matchroom Boxing is set to light up Las Vegas with a thrilling IBF Super Lightweight title eliminator featuring the unbeaten talents of Richardson Hitchins and Gustavo Daniel Lemos. Additionally, the card will spotlight Diego Pacheco defending his WBO and WBC Super Middleweight championships, adding to the night's high-octane boxing action.

The main event sees Richardson Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) square off against Gustavo Daniel Lemos (29-0, 19 KOs) in a critical showdown. Originally, Hitchins was slated to face Jack Catterall for the IBF mandatory spot. However, Catterall's pivot towards a rematch with Josh Taylor opened the door for Lemos to step in. This match is pivotal, as it offers the victor a shot at IBF champion Subriel Matias, setting the stage for a potential career-defining world title fight.

Hitchins comes off a successful year, securing unanimous decision victories over John Bauza and Jose Zepeda, capturing three titles along the way. The New York-based boxer aims to extend his winning streak and inch closer to world title glory.

Watch the official press conference highlights on YouTube: Watch

On the other hand, Gustavo Daniel Lemos, a powerhouse from Argentina, steps into the ring with an impressive undefeated record and 19 knockouts. Despite being the underdog, Lemos's formidable power and former IBF Latino champion status make him a dangerous contender. His last notable win against Lee Selby in 2022 showcased his skill, although he has fought only once since.

In the co-main event, Diego Pacheco (20-0, 17 KOs) will try to navigate through an unbeaten rival, Shawn McCalman (15-0, 7 KOs), in an upcoming 10-round bout.

Pacheco recently demonstrated his prowess by knocking out Marcelo Coceres in their November encounter. Under the guidance of trainer Jose Benavidez Sr., Pacheco has maintained an impressive streak of victories, solidifying his status in the super middleweight division.

McCalman is stepping up in class for this fight. His last outing saw him securing a unanimous decision over Cristian Olivas, showcasing his readiness for higher-caliber opponents. This fight represents a significant opportunity for McCalman to disrupt Pacheco's trajectory toward top-tier opponents like Berlanga.

Watch the official weigh-in highlights on YouTube: Watch

In the undercard, an undefeated featherweight southpaw, Skye Nicholson (9-0, 1 KO), is poised to contest the WBC women’s featherweight title left vacant by Amanda Serrano with Sarah Mahfoud (14-1, 3 KOs). The bout is particularly noteworthy as she abandoned the belt after the WBC revealed it would not schedule women’s title contests for twelve-minute rounds of three minutes each.

Also, Olympic 2020 Gold medalist and junior lightweight prospect Galal Yafai (6-0, 4 KOs) is returning to the ring. The Argentinian fighter Mauro Gauto (21-1, 15 KOs) presents an intimidating line of defense as Yafai claims the ranks. Hailed as “the special one” by Tony Bellew, Galal brings to life the aspiring world champion, ready to make his mark on and off the Olympic podiums.

Another most anticipated fighter to follow is Marc Castro (11-0, 8 KOs). Castro, who was named as one of the five American boxers to watch in December 2023, will perform against Abraham Montoya (22-5, 14 KOs). With his split victory in 2018 over Luis Alberto Lopez, Montoya is expected to be a serious challenger for Castro’s hopes of a hot fight.

Main card:

▪️Richardson Hitchins vs. Gustavo Daniel Lemos, 12 rounds, IBF junior welterweight eliminator ▪️Diego Pacheco vs. Shawn McCalman, 12 rounds, super middleweight ▪️Galal Yafai vs. Agustin Mauro Gauto, 10 rounds, flyweight ▪️Skye Nicolson vs. Sarah Mahfoud, 10 rounds, for the vacant WBC World featherweight title

Prelims (Starts at 5:40 pm ET):

▪️Marc Castro vs. Abraham Montoya, 10 rounds, super featherweight ▪️Steven Navarro vs. Jose Lopez, 6 rounds, super flyweight ▪️Harley Mederos vs. Pedro Vicente, 6 rounds, lightweight

Watch before the bell fights on YouTube: Watch